Hosea 5 continues with the tone of chapter 4. But here, the prophet tells the people that God can even see the sin they hide. Whatever is done behind closed doors and dark alleys is seen clearly by the God who sees everything. The problem in this chapter is that the sin and corruption is total. From the lowest person right up through the leadership both spiritually and politically. It is made clear that there is a point that God allows people and nations to fall headlong into their sin. He no longer restrains them, and the effects are devastating. When this happens God opposes them, corporately, and to prove that their denial of God is complete, the nation doesn’t turn back to Him, but turns to an even more evil nation in Assyria for help. What Judah and Israel have completely forgotten is that obedience to God is the best thing. That is where the blessing lies. We need to remember this today. There is no blessing in cultural compromise. There is no blessing in pleasing the world so that we can have a posh life now. Remember, Christian, you need to have a longer view on history. The 70, 80, 90, 100, years that you live on this earth is but a blink compared to eternity. Live for then, and do it by living in obedience now.
In Christ,
Pastor Jonathan Welch
